Daxton - Episode 32
The 5th Compass | Tales of Stonehaven [1,860 words]
Daxton is the first book in the 6-book series, The 5th Compass, which takes place in Stonehaven. Released in serial form, two episodes each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The audio version is coming in the future for paid subscribers only. Visit the table of contents for a list of previously published and upcoming episodes.
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After walking for what Barton knew was too long just to head back to the market. His stomach began to remember the smells of its delicious food. He heard voices before his nose instantly picked up the scent again. Nelle and Daxton watched as Barton darted past them towards the source.
“He does realize we have no money, right?” Daxton asked Nelle who was busy looking around for a way to solve that very problem.
“He’ll learn soon enough. The people of (name here) do not take kindly to beggars or those with no money. Look.” She pointed to a rather large man who was walking through the market eating a turkey leg with a small pouch hanging from his waistband. Daxton knew exactly what Nelle intended to do without saying a word. “Wait here.”
She eyed the large patron every so often as she pushed past people who walked towards her. Finally, he stopped at a food stand and pointed his chubby digits at some hanging sausage links. Out the corner of Daxton’s eye, as he watched Nelle closely, hoping to get some pointers on how best to steal a man’s purse, he noticed someone was eyeing her suspiciously. From this man’s attire he could not tell if he was a part of the law or just a Good Samaritan who knew he was about to catch someone in the act of stealing. Daxton had to act fast. He quickly calculated the distance between himself and Nelle then the man and knew what he had to do. He casually walked at top speeds to wear the man stood, never taking his eyes off of what Nelle was doing as she quickened her pace as well. The Merchant just behind the man was selling cookware of all shapes and sizes. One such item was a rather large pot he was using to demonstrate how well it could hold and boil a large about of water as it dangled over a fire. Waiting for the perfect moment Daxton turned abruptly towards the Merchants stand, purposely sticking out his foot to catch one side of the sticks that held up the pot. It lurched forwards directly onto the man, pouring scolding hot water on him and those unlucky enough to be standing near him. One woman screamed which also served to distract the large man, giving Nelle an even easier means of extracting his purse. As everyone turned to look at the commotion, she ducked down out of everyone’s line of sight and with one good yank was able to release the pouch from his person and leave without anyone noticing.
Daxton also managed to separate himself from those who crowded around the injured people. He looked around and noticed the man he poured the pot onto was looking around as well for Nelle. Instead, he found Barton who came up to him, his face stuffed with food he was scooping up from a bowl, using bread as a spoon.
“Was that you?” he asked, his cheeks pushed out on either side as he at the food faster than his mouth could hold it. “That was bloody brilliant. I was able to snatch this off that Merchant’s table without his even noticing. Thanks.” He smiled and Daxton grimaced as he saw bit of food caught between Barton’s teeth.
“I did not do it for you, I did it for Nelle. She stole someone’s purse, but I can’t find her now. Do you think you can stop stuffing your face long enough to help me look?”
Barton finished off the last bit of food from the bowl and tossed it to the ground as he and Daxton walked the length of the market looking for someone with Krieger’s likeness in the crowd. They finally found him at the furthest end of the market which led to a dirt road.
“Where have you two been, I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I think I’m being followed?” Nelle said, for the first time sounding a bit worried.
“I know, I noticed him when you went to steal that man’s purse. I haven’t seen him since I knocked that pot onto him, have you?” Daxton asked, looking back over his shoulder at the street teeming with too many people to really make anyone out. Mid-day was beginning to settle in, and the sun hid behind gathering clouds overhead.
“He must know Krieger, otherwise why follow me but make no move to grab you when you approached him?”
“I suppose that means being inside his body does not bestow upon you the gift of his memory?” Barton asked, finally contributing something to the conversation that was not about himself or his needs.
“Goodness, no, and it is when that happens that you need to worry. It means I am losing myself and Krieger will return to his body. If that happens, I will be lost forever. Pray that it doesn’t. In the meantime, let us make haste to the compass maker’s house before nightfall. This place is not friendly to those with no place to rest their heads who wander around. And I do not wish to run into whoever that man is following me.”
“How do you know so much about this place?” Daxton asked, a question Nelle hoped she could avoid answering.
“Have you two eaten?”
“I have, but Daxton has not. We should probably get more food before we go?” Barton suggested, sniffing the air for something that attracted his stomach.
“Fine, but do not journey too far back the way we came, that man could be lurking anywhere,” she whispered at Barton who was quickly walking away from them, letting his stomach lead the way.
“Is there a reason you are avoiding my question?” Daxton asked as they followed closely behind Barton.
“This is my home. I was born here. My brother and I, we were born here.” They stopped at a stand where a Merchant was selling large mugs of steaming hot soup.
“You have a brother?” Barton managed to ask as he licked his lips and rubbed his belly, watching the man scoop heaps of broth filled with a mixture of meats and potatoes into three separate mugs.
Nelle reached into the purse she stole earlier and handed over three large silver coins for payment. They each took their mugs which came with a wooden spoon and followed as she led them towards the end of the market again. Daxton stopped when he saw a merchant that it seemed no one was even remotely interested in paying attention to. It was a woman who was selling an assortment of arrows unlike anything he’d ever seen. A woman selling bows and arrows he admitted to himself, did seem rather odd, but what made this stand odder still was that it had no bows on display. Just arrows with intricate designs and carvings at the tip and shaft.
Daxton left the two of them walking and talking and he approached the Merchant who noticed, not him, but his Bow.
“How can I help you, young man?” She had long hair as black as night that flowed down all around her face which was round with very few distinctive features other than her dark green eyes that made Daxton feel like she was peering into his very soul. He swallowed hard as he tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. She smiled at him and brushed her hair back behind her ear completely covered in piercings. Her hands were rather soft and slender fingers, Daxton figured must make her a great archer, but he still could not speak to even ask her that. She looked to be around his age and seemed not to be bothered by his inability to speak as she let him stand there feeling like a complete fool. “Would you like to try one on your bow?” She leaned forwards and he took a step back when she picked up one of the arrows on the table and tried to hand it to him.
He remembered his friends and looked in the direction they were walking in and noticed they were doubling back. He had only a few seconds to compose himself before Barton would realize what was happening and forever tease him.
“Yes, please,” Daxton managed to croak out, his voice breaking and ending with a slight squeak. She smiled and giggled at the sound while his face flushed with embarrassment. He lifted the Bow from his back and put the nocked the arrow in place. It felt perfect to him as he closed one eye and peered down the shaft at the tip pointing it away from her and right at Barton who was standing inches away from him.
“Hey, watch where you are pointing that thing,” Barton shouter, pushing the arrow head away from his face. “The look amazing…” His voice trailed off as he looked up to see the young woman sitting behind the counter still smiling.
Nelle finally caught up with both of them, looking around frantically for that man, expecting him to appear at any moment. She found it odd that he hadn’t and assumed he might be observing from the shadows. “What are you two doing we have to leave. Oh,” she said, when she saw the glazed over look on both of their faces as they stood gawking at the young girl behind the stand. “Snap out of it you two,” she said, snapping her fingers at them.
“Right, sorry.” Daxton was the first to realize what he was doing and snap out of it. “I was just looking at these arrows, but they’re probably much more than we can afford.” He grabbed Barton’s arm, who was still staring at the girl and smiling, and pulled him away.
“Depends on how much you are willing to pay for them?” the girl answered.
Daxton turned to Nelle, who still held the purse, with pleading eyes she could not resist. She pulled out three large silver coins and placed them in the girl’s hand. She looked at them as if she’d never seen that kind of money in her entire life. Never taking her eyes from the coins in her hand she reached under the table and pulled out a bag for the arrows, handing it to Daxton who put his Bow back over his shoulder. “How many?” he asked nervously hoping it was more than just two or three.
“All of them,” she said. “Thank you. This money just saved my life and the life of my family as well.” Tears began to show in her eyes as she put the coins safely in the pocket of her dress and gathered up the arrows on the table. There were easily more than two dozen and she placed them in his quiver he held out towards her.
Not wishing to stick around and argue about it, Nelle grabbed both Barton and Daxton by the arms and pulled them away from the stand. The young girl leaned forward over her table and waved at them as they walked away and out of the market.